his f-:iily decide. that the time has c .;:le for him to become an .dult.

*.t the close of the r .Ln season, the time of harvesting .nd

thus of plenty for the tribe, the "hair-tying" ceremony is carried

out. For months beforeh-nd, the youth -llovx his hair to grow until
it comes down to his shoulders, Me -nwhile, mother and aunts weave

there ids (cords) to adorn him, while father nd uncles collect
feathers with rhich they make elaborate orn'o'nents. All T pir-p4

youths become adults through this rite; the tons of important men,
however, and those who were "favorite ::ons" (the T pir:p4 elect

certain children to preferential treatment) are much more richly

attire th:.n the others. The ceremony is costly to the family, and
much time is needed beforehand to gather the necessary materials--
i caw tail fe..thers, short feathers of the blue m: c:.w and parrot,

breast fluff of wild ducks, cotton threads for the orn ment .nd
beads. All these items are valuable to the T-,pirap4, who g uge
their own wealth in those terms.
On the eve of the ritual, the preparations begin, The youth's

body is painted black vith genip-,p. On his face, a bluck line is
drawn under the mouth '.nd a circle under the eyes, ihich are elonl, teL.

v ith a line at the corners. The father or uncles put the last touches

on a l.rge diidem. At dawn on the day of the ceremony, the youth is
led to the large ceremony: 1 house buil. in the center of the Tapir:.p4
vill [;e, .nd his hair is set to -.upr.ort the large nkungit n. (di .le:,)

made of numerous manc:.-, parrot .nd duci, feathers f :.Atenet to a base

of murity p.lm .nd hard v'ood., nd weighing. about 5 kilogr :.is. The
hair is trimuned,..nd tied into a roll on the n pe of the neck with a